Editing Aztec Code (section)

{{Short description|Type of matrix barcode}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2010}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
[[Image:Azteccodeexample.svg|thumb|184px|Encoding: "This is an example Aztec symbol for Wikipedia."]]

The '''Aztec Code''' is a [[Barcode#Matrix (2D) barcodes|matrix code]] invented by Andrew Longacre, Jr. and Robert Hussey in 1995.<ref>*{{cite patent |inventor1-last=Longacre, Jr. |inventor1-first=Andrew |inventor2-last=Hussey |inventor2-first=Robert |title=Two Dimensional Data Encoding Structure and Symbology for use with Optical Readers |pubdate=1997-01-07 |country=US |number=5591956}}</ref> The code was published by [[Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility|AIM, Inc.]] in 1997. Although the Aztec Code was [[patent]]ed, that patent was officially made [[public domain]].<ref name=Dedication>{{cite book |title=Official Gazette |publisher=United States Patent Office |date=June 17, 1997 |url=http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=5,591,956.PN.&OS=PN/5,591,956&RS=PN/5,591,956 |quote=Hereby dedicates to the public the entire term of said patent.}} Click "images" then "correction" to see the dedication to the public domain.</ref> The Aztec Code is also published as ISO/IEC 24778:2024 standard. Named after the resemblance of the central finder pattern to an [[Aztec Pyramids|Aztec pyramid]], Aztec Code has the potential to use less space than other matrix barcodes because it does not require a surrounding blank "quiet zone".